Chapter 108: Five Against Four

"All right," Cassian said.

They had reached Rank VI later than he had, but it was still quick progress.

"You initiate it, or shall I?" Darian asked.

"You’re paying. You initiate it."

Darian rolled his eyes. "Always the money with you."

Cassian completed the ordinary requirements for his Embassy. Once the five Wardens had confirmed their participation and their Embassies were ready, a notice appeared in the Shattered Marches Channel.

[Ironwake, Riftward, Stoneward, Northwatch, and Greyfen have formed the Dawn Alliance.]

The Channel fell quiet for a moment.

[Black Banner Lord: How have so many of them reached Rank VI already?]

[Black Banner Lord: So what? I’m Rank VI too. Warden Varek must be there by now.]

[Anonymous Lord: It’s the Alliance Fortune Duel you should be thinking about.]

That brought Bren Orwick straight into the discussion.

[Bren Orwick: Lord Cassian, surely we can talk. Our Regions are neighbors. Challenging us to Fortune Duels every few days won’t solve anything.]

[Black Banner Warden: What are you afraid of? Look at the Regions they’re bringing. Northwatch is still recovering. Riftward and Ironwake can’t carry everyone.]

[Black Banner Warden: Have some pride. You’re embarrassing us.]

[Bren Orwick: Five of them against four of us! And you have the nerve to talk about pride?]

[Black Banner Warden: Four? Alliance Duels require equal numbers of Regions.]

The next notice answered him.

[The Dawn Alliance has initiated a Region Fortune Duel.]

[Target Regions include Whitefield and Duskmoor.]

Cassian had selected five targets. Together, they accounted for Black Banner’s remaining Regions with two Fortune apiece.

The Channel erupted.

[Black Banner Warden: You included Duskmoor? Where’s your honor?]

[Black Banner Lord: That butcher killed every Lord there! Duskmoor is a dead Region!]

[Anonymous Lord: So it really is five against four.]

[Black Banner Lord: Underhanded bastards!]

[Cassian Vale: Who was calling me a butcher?]

The Lord who had written it fell silent.

Both sides wanted to avoid another war before the contest for the Marches. That did not make anyone eager to become Cassian’s next target.

The initiating side could choose the opposing Regions and the stake. Regions that had earned Fortune were usually strong, and these were no exception. Without an empty Duskmoor on the other side, carrying the weaker members of the Alliance would have been much less certain.

Fortunately, Duskmoor was still there.

[Darian Frost has transferred Aether Crystal ×100,000,000 to you through the Exchange.]

Cassian accepted the payment with a clear conscience. He could have used his last Writ to win two Fortune for Riftward alone. This way, several other Regions stood to gain with him.

Another transfer arrived.

[Seraphine Valcrest has transferred Aether Crystal ×20,000,000 to you through the Exchange.]

[Message: My share. Thanks for bringing Greyfen along.]

Cassian considered it, then sent the twenty million back.

[Cassian Vale: Darian has already paid for the Writ. If you want to contribute, send it to him.]

He liked money. That did not mean charging twice for the same thing.

The defending Regions soon selected their category.

Troop Power.

Cassian smiled.

"They really do deliver everything to my door."

He selected a stake of two Fortune per Region and committed his last Writ. It dissolved as the Duel was established.

[Alliance Fortune Duel established.]

[Category: Troop Power]

[Stake: 2 Fortune per Region]

[Settlement: Three Realm Days later, 12:00]

Messages began appearing in the new Alliance Channel.

[Darian Frost: They want us wasting our resources on disposable troops. They’re going to be disappointed.]

An Ironwake Lord was quick to agree.

[Ironwake Lord: Lord Darian gave me a Sigil from one of the strongest Epic lines, ten other Epic Sigils, and dozens of Rare ones. I’m ready.]

With that much support behind him, he was clearly someone Darian intended to cultivate.

Elara sounded just as confident.

[Elara Vayne: I’m aiming for ten thousand troops.]

Her new Chapterhouse made that a worthwhile goal. An Epic line with the full Eclipse training could remain useful even to an established War Lord like her mother. She would not have to dismiss the troops once the Duel ended. She could keep them and raise their Levels as her Domain grew.

That was what had made Cassian smile.

When he had needed Aether, Black Banner had sent it. When he had needed Battle Essence, they had sent that too.

Now he wanted to spread the Eclipse line, and they had chosen a contest that rewarded exactly that.

[Mira Calder: Northwatch appreciates the help.]

[Cassian Vale: To be clear, Darian paid for the Writ.]

[Gareth Halvern: Then our thanks to everyone doing the heavy lifting.]

[Seraphine Valcrest: We’re on the same side. No need to keep thanking one another.]

Before closing the Channel, Cassian sent Nessa Fenwick, a Human Lord on Riftward’s roster, a separate instruction: contact Elara and gather the Sea Melody Stone she would need for an Eclipse Chapterhouse.

——

Late that night, Cassian and Veyra sat on the terrace of the Lord’s Hall, drinking and talking. Two of the Eclipse Praetorians attended them.

Veyra lifted her cup. Her cheeks were warm with wine.

"To the first Chapterhouse. You really are taking the Eclipse line beyond these walls."

Was that her thirtieth toast?

Cassian touched his cup to hers and drank.

Veyra rested her chin on one hand, studying him.

"I hadn’t realized you could hold your wine so well."

His strengthened body made it difficult for the wine to catch up with him. He looked back at her with a perfectly serious expression.

"If you want to get closer, you can just say so. You don’t have to get me drunk first."

For once, Veyra lowered her eyes instead of answering immediately.

Cassian laughed and drew her into his arms. Her startled sound softened as she settled against him.

One of the Praetorians covered her companion’s eyes.

"Give them some privacy."

She was still looking herself.

Cassian had no intention of giving them a performance. He rose with Veyra in his arms and carried her inside.

By the time the second Praetorian pulled the hand away, they were gone.

"Where did they go?"

"Where do you think?"

"We could go and congratulate—"

Her companion tapped her on the head before she could finish.

"We could leave them alone."

——

The rest of the night belonged to Cassian and Veyra.

When morning came, he woke feeling thoroughly content. Veyra was still asleep beside him, her expression peaceful with exhaustion.

He looked at her for a moment and smiled. Then his thoughts returned to the Warbody he had been cultivating.

He would have to keep working at it.

——

As usual, Cassian checked the battle reports first.

One immediately caught his eye.

[Your Hero Liora Ashmere has killed a Hydra.]

[Quality: Epic | Level: 56]

[Battle Essence +1,180,000]

[Aether +150,000]

[Epic Chest ×1]

[Ballots ×920]

"Almost a thousand Ballots from one monster."

He opened the total.

[Ballots: 165,852]

That was quite a stack. Then again, he had eleven Ghost Carriers hunting beyond the Marches, and the Vein’s bonus applied to their rewards.

Cassian tucked the blanket around Veyra and got up.

At Rank VII, the Lord’s Hall had become a spacious three-story residence. He used the top floor himself, the Heroes had rooms on the second, and the ground floor served as the reception area.

He had just reached the second floor when Aurelia opened her door.

"Morning," he said. Then he looked more closely. "You look tired."

She gave a strained little laugh.

"A lot of scouting lately."

Before he could reply, she added, "If you don’t need anything, I’ll get back to it."

She spread her wings and was gone.

Another door opened. Celia came out with a yawn.

"Good morning, Lord."

She saw him, hesitated, and immediately turned toward the stairs.

"Crystal Bastion. Plenty to kill. I’ll be going."

Cassian watched her hurry downstairs.

"Were those two listening last night?"

His stomach growled before he could think about it much longer.

He shrugged. "Breakfast first."

A generous meal was waiting for him: Moonrice porridge, a platter of fruit, and seafood dishes still steaming from the kitchen.

Cassian settled down to eat and opened a few Channels. He had only meant to pass the time while he ate.

Then a Lord’s message made him stop and look again.